The rest of the summer passed smoothly for the inhabitants of Grimmauld Place. Ron liked to sleep late, and Ginny liked to use that time for early morning flying in the garden, so Harry and Hermione had the alone time that they were afraid they would otherwise miss. Therefore, the mornings would usually find them curled up on one or the other of their beds or on their common room sofa busily engaged in a combination of earnest snogging, tentative touches, and quiet conversation. Their afternoons were often spent in housewide discussions, debates, games, duels, pranks, and anything else that the four teenagers and the two Marauders could think of. The evenings were usually quieter times with Sirius and Remus meeting with various Order members downstairs while the teenagers gathered in the upstairs common room.
This comfortable routine was broken only by the visit to Diagon Alley to purchase their school supplies. Bill had been kind enough to collect everyone's money from their Gringotts vaults beforehand. Hermione looked embarrassed as Bill handed her a full bag – especially when he leaned over to speak quietly to Sirius.
"No problems with your vault access – just as we suspected. In fact, Ripstorm sends his regards to you and your sister."
"Ah, yes, Ripstorm," Sirius replied with a small smile. "He's been the family's account manager for as long as I can remember. I haven't seen him since before Azkaban, of course, but he was always attentive and courteous to me. Plus, he earned my eternal respect when I once saw him slip up and pretend to stab my father in the back with his sword as he walked away from him. Of course, my dear old dad was a right bastard, so there was no telling what he had said to him first to make him that angry. At any rate, I look forward to introducing him to Hermione and Harry one day – two relatives of whom I have no need to be ashamed – and ironically, neither of whom are related by blood or birth." Just then he looked up to see the girl in question flush with embarrassment. He crossed over to hug her, understanding what the problem was. "What's mine is yours, Little Lioness, remember?" At her uneasy nod, he winked and said, "I'm even sharing all of the important parts of my godson with you!" He then laughed heartily as she blushed again, but for an entirely different reason this time.
Despite the resulting unpleasantness when they ran into the Malfoys at Madame Malkins (and then later in Knockturn Alley), the rest of the shopping trip went smoothly. They were thrilled to see Hagrid, who actually cried when Harry told him that Hermione was now his girlfriend.
"Our 'arry and our 'ermione – I jest couldna be 'appier!" the half-giant had murmured affectionately at them while he squeezed them in a big rough hug until they were both breathless.
Then they all visited Fred and George, who of course teased Harry and Hermione mercilessly about their new relationship, and then once away from their mother's eyes, offered them some of their new "adult" products to test – including Daydreams for Couples, Laughing Lotion for Lovers, and Tangled Touch Taffy. A blushing Hermione surreptitiously accepted some of the latter and considered how best to use the edible restraints as Fred winked at a very surprised and slightly embarrassed, but secretly quite pleased, Harry. Even though they had decided to take the physical side of their relationship slowly, it was still quite fun to experiment and figure out what each of them liked - hence the secret smile that he sent towards his girlfriend as he picked up a package of Kickstart Kisses. "It's always the quiet ones that you have to watch out for, Fred!" George later told his brother as they watched Harry and Hermione walk hand-in-hand out of the store.
His happy summer with Sirius and Hermione had lightened his heart, but the knowledge of the prophecy still sat heavy in the pit of Harry's stomach, and he knew that he had to share that secret before it wore him down. Therefore, before he returned to Hogwarts, Harry was determined to tell his godfather, his girlfriend, and his best friend about the secret that he had been carrying around with him for months. Plus, he had no idea how much time he had left before the events in the prophecy came to light. It could be years, but it could also only be days before it happened! The suspicious behavior of Malfoy, both in Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley, as well as the mysterious disappearances listed in the Prophet on a daily basis, and the hushed voices of the Order members during the meetings now all suggested that events in the wizarding world were getting much more serious. He didn't know how or when that it would end – or who would be the victor. Therefore, he had to let the people he cared about know what he knew – just in case. However, he just couldn't figure out how or when to tell them.
In the end, it was actually Hermione who forced his hand. During some of their early morning alone time, the thin camisole top that she normally slept in was pushed up beneath her breasts, and he found himself gently tracing the long puckered scar that diagonally bisected her abdomen. She was fully healed except for occasional twinges of pain when she moved the wrong way, but that scar would be a constant reminder of the sacrifice that she had been willing to make for him – just so that he wouldn't be alone. She had been quite insecure about showing it to him at first, but to him it was a mark of her bravery, her friendship, and her…love. Even though they had not said the words yet, didn't mean that the feelings weren't there. Therefore, the very first time she allowed him to completely see it, he decided to relieve her worries that he wouldn't find her attractive because of it. He had kissed all the way down the length of it and had left them both in such a breathless state, that they actually had to part ways for a while before they did something for which they knew they were not yet ready. At any rate, on this particular morning, he traced the scar in such a melancholy way that Hermione instantly knew that something was amiss.
"Harry, what's wrong?" she asked gently as she looked up at him. Her lively hair was spread out around her on the pillow and her warm eyes gazed into his while she carded her fingers gently through his perpetually unruly hair. He felt so cared about by that beautiful woman in that moment, that he almost broke down then and there. He managed to hold it together long enough to tell her what Dumbledore had told him about the prophecy. Only then, did he let go and sob at the sheer unfairness of it all. Haven't I been through enough? Don't I deserve some peace and happiness? he thought as they lay together on the bed with Harry's head resting on Hermione's scar. She just held him with one arm and continued to stroke his hair with the other - until he was finished. In all of the years that he had known her, this wasn't the first time that he had ever cried in front of the witch. However, it was the first time that he had not been ashamed about it. He was that comfortable with her now. "You shouldn't have held that in so long," she chastised him gently. "I know you. You have been killing yourself with that secret when I could have helped you bear it this entire time." Harry then realized the truth of her words when it felt as if a weight had been lifted off of his chest. He felt so much better after sharing - especially when he noticed that he had completely soaked Hermione's thin camisole and that it was now almost completely see through. He realized that he may have been a marked man, but he was still a man! Therefore, he then grinned as he set out to…distract…himself for a while - with her enthusiastic participation, of course.
Much too soon, they heard Ron come into their common room and call loudly for them. They knew he wouldn't enter the bedroom since he said that he had almost been blinded last time, but he would stay out there grumbling loudly until they emerged. Therefore, Hermione kissed Harry gently, pulled her shirt down, and then nudged him off the bed with her foot. "Go tell Sirius," she said seriously and gave him a knowing look, "and I will tell Ron for you. Then we will join you downstairs for breakfast when Ginny comes in." Harry gave her such a look of gratitude that she just couldn't resist pulling him back for another kiss. "Go!" she demanded before things could escalate again. "Tell Ron I will be there in a minute. I think I need to change my top."
"By Merlin, yes, you do!" Harry practically growled at the thought of Ron, best friend or not, seeing Hermione's breasts – even through her shirt! She laughed at him and then pushed him out the door, shutting it firmly behind him.
Both Sirius and Remus were already at the kitchen table when Harry entered the room and told them that they needed to talk. When it was all said and done, both of the Marauders took the news of the prophecy much better than Harry had thought they would. They both listened calmly just like Hermione had. It was as if, after all of the times that Harry had already faced off against Voldemort, something like this was practically expected to happen. However, both of the men pledged their support and swore that they would do everything in their power to make sure that the teenagers would be ready for that day whenever it came - because as Sirius pointed out, "Wherever Harry goes to get into trouble, the other two will probably be there, as well!" Sirius was especially enthusiastic after he asked if there was anything in particular that they would like to learn. Therefore, Harry asked about something that he and Hermione had been discussing all summer.
"Would you teach us to become animagi?"
Just a few days later, the school trunks were packed. The familiars were placed in their travel carriers and cages. Cheeks were kissed. Hugs were given. Letter writing was promised. Then, before they knew it, the gang from Grimmauld Place found themselves aboard the Hogwarts Express with their friends, rushing towards Scotland and what promised to be a very interesting year.